Change. It’s the only constant. A reminder that everything is in a state of flux and that adaptability is our key navigational tool.
For as long as I have been a member of the Academy of Magical Arts (AMA), The Magic Castle has always been in some state of flux, both structurally and internally. When Milt Larsen was alive he was constantly repairing and replacing things and adding new gags and performance spaces. The fire in 2011 brought on even more structural changes.
And if we are speaking of internal changes, well, all one has to do is look back at the decade of the ‘90s and the financial instability the club battled at that time.
As of January 1 of this year, the next big change for The Castle took place. This date marked the day, as voted on and passed by the membership of the AMA, that Magic Castle Enterprises (MCE), owned by Randy and Kristy Pitchford, and with Erika Larsen, daughter and niece of the AMA’s founders, as president, would take control of The Castle’s commercial operations. When members received their membership renewal package for the year, they also received a letter from Erika outlining the change. In this cheery salutation, Erika spoke of how eager MCE was to “begin its stewardship over, and massive investment into” the clubhouse.
The very next day, January 2, was Founders’ Day at The Magic Castle. This is the annual celebration to honor our founders, Bill, Irene, and Milt Larsen, reminisce about days gone by, and look forward to where we’re headed.